- Alan Finn
- Sat, Jun 15 2013
Sligo Rovers returned to winning and scoring ways in emphatic fashion on Saturday evening when they beat UCD 5-2 at The Showgrounds.
David McMillan had given UCD an early lead, but goals from David Cawley, Aaron Greene, Kieran Djilali, Joseph Ndo and a Liam Traynor own goal ensured Rovers finished the night with three points.
Dean Clarke grabbed a goal in the second half, but it proved to be little more than a consolation goal.
UCD got off to a dream start when they opened the scoring after just two minutes when top scorer David McMillan took full advantage of a lapse in concentration by Jeff Henderson to slot the ball past Gary Rogers.
McMillan went close to doubling the lead ten minutes later when he shot narrowly wide of the target.
Rovers were on top after this effort, and they grabbed a deserved equaliser after 27 minutes with a move straight off the training ground as Joseph Ndo passed to Aaron Greene from a free-kick who in turn played it through to David Cawley who slotted the ball under Conor O'Donnell.
Cawley turned provider just moments later when crossed for Aaron Greene, but the striker headed over.
The Bit O'Red had one more chance to go into the break with the lead when Kieran Djilali crossed for Seamus Conneely, but the midfielder couldn't connect with the ball properly as his header looped over the bar.
With just a few minutes of the second half gone, Sligo Rovers found themselves in front in sublime fashion when Liam Martin passed for Greene who rifled a shot beyond the reach of O'Donnell from the edge of the box.
Things went from bad to worse ten minutes later when Liam Traynor turned an David Cawley cross past his own goalkeeper and into the top corner. This was followed by another goal just two minutes later as Conneely squared a ball for Djilali who took a touch before placing his effort into the bottom right corner.
Dean Clarke reduced the deficit within a minute of being introduced to the game when he beat Rogers in a one on one.
Joseph Ndo restored the three goal lead with just under 20 minutes remaining when an Alan Keane cross, intended for Cawley, instead found its way to the Cameroon International who tapped in at the far post.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jeff Henderson, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Kieran Djilali, David Cawley (Ryan Connolly, 76), Joseph Ndo, Seamus Conneely, Liam Martin (Ross Gaynor, 73); Aaron Greene (Danny North, 61).
Subs not used: Ciaran Kelly, Marty Owens, Jake Dykes, Pascal Millien.
Booked: None.
UCD: Conor O'Donnell; Gareth Matthews (Liam Traynor, 36), David O'Connor, Hugh Douglas, Sean Russell; Robbie Benson, Robbie Creevy, Craig Walsh, Thomas O'Halloran (Dean Clarke, 61); Gary Burke (Daniel Corcoran, 61), David McMillan.
Subs not used: Gerard Barron, Sean Coyne, Barry McCabe, Cillian Morrison.
Booked: None.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
Attendance: 1,784.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: David Cawley (Sligo Rovers).
